What are the interesting ethnic customs in Xishuangbanna?

Xishuangbanna is inhabited by 13 ethnic groups, among which the Dai nationality is the main one. In this area, the most interesting national custom is the Water-splashing Festival. From April to April every year, people in Xishuangbanna will dress up, sing and dance. In the process of spreading the Songkran Festival, they merged their own national myths, making the Songkran Festival more legendary.

1. The myth of the Water-splashing Festival It is said that there used to be a demon in Xishuangbanna who married seven beautiful women. These women hold a grudge against the devil and plan how to kill him. One night, the youngest of the seven women got him drunk with the best wine and meat, and exposed his weakness of being afraid of choking his hair on his neck. Then the clever girl used Xia Devil's crimson hair to deal with the Devil, and finally successfully defeated him. The devil's head spread around like a fireball, burning crops. The girls kept splashing water on the ground before putting out the evil fire. So there is a custom of splashing water on holidays.

The water-sprinkling festival lasted for three days. Before the arrival of the water-splashing festival, people in Xishuangbanna were busy killing pigs and chickens and making rice cakes for the festival. The Songkran Festival in Xishuangbanna lasts for three days. On the first day, there will be some cultural performances, such as rowing dragon boats, singing and dancing. The next day, men, women and children in Xishuangbanna poured water on the street to pray together. On the third day, young men and women lost their bags together and exchanged materials. The water used in the Songkran Festival is the cleanest water for the Dai people. In the morning, the water beat the shoulders with branches. The more water you drink, the more blessings you send.

Third, the customs of Xishuangbanna should be allowed. Besides the custom of the Water-splashing Festival, there are many other national customs in Xishuangbanna. For example, when the Hani people are in Gregorian calendar 1.2, people will make rice cakes, worship their family gods, hold banquets, and invite young men and women to pick flowers and wild fruits in the mountains.